Fire rips through Palestinian lands in West Bank

Associated PressMonday, June 03, 2013

Credit: The Associated Press

A Palestinian man walks with a shovel through an olive grove set on fire near the West Bank village of Burin, near Nablus, Monday, June .3, 2013. Palestinian witnesses say Jewish settlers from Yitzhar settlement set fire to an olive grove.

Credit: The Associated Press

Palestinians try to put out fire in an olive grove near the West Bank village of Burin, near Nablus, Monday, June .3, 2013. Palestinian witnesses say Jewish settlers from Yitzhar settlement set fire to an olive grove.

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RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinians say a fire has ripped through their lands in the northern West Bank, scorching several acres (hectares) of olive and almond groves.

Nimir Tirawi of the village of Burin says the fire began when hard-line Jews from the nearby settlement of Yitzhar lit the blaze Monday. He says the fire quickly spread due to dry heat and hot winds. He says villagers tried to extinguish the blaze and threw rocks at the settlers.

A settler spokesman did not return a message seeking comment.

The Israeli military says that settlers and Palestinians were spotted lighting fires Monday.

Hard-line settlers often set fire to Palestinian olive groves. Palestinians sometimes try set fire to areas near Jewish settlements.